Masonry guide



i Jam,- 10, 1939 l w. s. BY'RNES 2,143,237 MAsoNRY GUIDE Filed Feb. 25,1938 Z4 INVENTOR l BY ATTCRN E Patented Jan. 10, 1939 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE 13 Claims.

This invention" relates to masonry guides, and

more particularly, to a bricklayers guide for in` suring thel accurateerection of a corner of a masonry structure. v

The erection of an accurate corner of a structure composed of bricks orthe like is diflicult and tedious. The corners must be built upcarefully to insure that the same are accurately projected vertically.The corners are used as leads for the later erected walls of thestructure so that an inaccurate corner will result in misalignment orpitching of the walls. The production of a true corner, therefore,requires the skill of an experienced mason or -bricklayer who commands aconsiderable remuneration for his services.

The mason or bricklayer must frequently plumb the corner to ascertainthe proper position of the bricks to be used in each -course in buildingup the corner. It is not only necessary to rst determine the properposition of the bricks, but,`

the workman must also verify the accuracy of his work after the brickshave beeen placed before continuing with the construction work.

This frequent plumbing ot the corner results in a considerable loss oftime, and, as a consequence, the construction cost of buildings andother masonry structures are materially increased. y

The herein disclosed invention obviates this considerable loss of timein that, through the use of the invention, the need of the such frequentplumbing, as was heretofore necessary to insure the accurte constructionof the corners, is obviated.

, Devices have been heretofore proposed which attempted to remove thenecessity of the frequent use of plumbing instruments for ascertainingthe accuracy of the vertical projection of a corner. There has alwaysbeen present, however, the diiiiculty of supporting theseprior deviceson the corner in such a way that the workmen could sight the cornerwithout interference by the device or the support therefor and, yet,provide a device which is stable when mounted for use.

This difficulty is obviated in the present invention by the provisiln ofimproved means for supporting the device on the corner of the structurebeing erected. 'I'he device of the present invention, when mounted foruse, is extremely stable and yet the supporting means are so constructedthat the mason has an unobstructed view of the corner whereby he canreadily align the gauge rod with the previously laid courses so that itwill have the proper vertical disposition. With the device of thisinvention, the supporting means are so disposed that the bicklayer mayplace his level anywhere on the wall. even close to the corner, in theusual way when laying course after course.

Another difficulty with the bricklayers guides, heretofore proposed, isthat care and considerable judgment was required in positioning andadjusting the device so that an appreciable amount of time was consumedby the workmen each time the device was positioned and* adjusted duringthe course of work.

This difficulty specifically consisted in the fact that the gauge rodsof the prior devices were permanently secured to the base or supportingmember so that, to adjust or plumb the vertical gauge member, it wasnecessary to shift the base member. This repositioning of the base notonly resulted in a considerable loss of time but damaged as weil themortar forming the joint between the successive courses of bricks inwhich it was inserted.

- This difficulty is avoided in the present invention by providing animproved means for conveniently positioning and supporting the devicefor use, and in the further provision of improved means for easily andquickly moving the gauge rod to the desired adjusted position. The gaugerod of the present invention, is pivotally secured to the base memberand novel adjusting means are so provided that thegauge rod may beadjusted without disturbing or repositioning the supporting member afterit has been initially posltioned in the mortar joint.

The improved means employed for adjusting the gauge rod are soconstructed that they cannot be disarranged by jarring or jolting, whichmight be caused by workmen accidentally striking the adjusting means,but must be manually operated. With this novel construction, theimproved means. once adjusted, will remain in the desired position andthereby prevent accidental movement of the gauge rod until positivelymoved by manual operation of the adjusting means.

Further, the improved adjusting means of the present invention are suchthat very small controlled movements may be imparted to the gauge rodwhereby very accurate and precise adjustments may be had.

Another very serious diilculty existed in the Y in their intendedfunction. If the mortar was not immediately removed by the mason, thedevices would then necessarily have to be cleaned after a comparativelyshort use by a long an'd laborious process. A bricklayer would have tohave at his disposal, therefore, several of the prior devices if hedesired to complete the con-l struction work without interruption.

This diflculty is avoided 'in the present invention as novel means havebeen provided which eliminates the danger of the device becominginoperative byreason of mortar accidentally falling on andk adhering t6the relatively movable elements of the device as well as in theprovision offurther novel means for automatically removing mortar whichmight adhere to working parts of the device, which, if not removedtherefrom, would render such partsinoperative. This permits a mason tocomplete the Work without the frequent cessation of his work to cleanthe device before the mortar can set and harden thereon.

Further, according to the present invention, the gauge rod may be soadjusted that it can be set at any desired angle to the trueperpendicular as, for example, when the device is used to gauge atapering wall such as a chimney or similar structure.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view ofA the device mounted for use on thecorner of a masonry structure.

Fig. 2 israr top elevational view of the device.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational View, partly broken away, to illustrate themeans by which the gauge rod is universally mounted on the base.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view, partly in elevation, illustrating the meansfor adjusting the brace rods.

In the preferred form of the guide, a base I0, having meanstherewith formounting the guide on thel masonry for use, supports a verticallydisposed gauge rod II which kis universally mounted thereon and havingassociated therewith adjustable `brace rods pivotally connected t'o thebase and the gauge rod II respectively,

whereby the rod may be adjusted relative tosaid,

base.

The base I0 supports the vertically disposed gauge rod which is mountedthereon by means 'of an improved pivotal connection I3.

a universal pivotal movement with respect to' the base I0 The ball I5may be mounted on the lower end of a pin II. The pin I1 is provided atan end thereof with threads adapted to engage threads formed interiorlyof the ball I5. The pin is re- "ceived in and pro-jects through asuitable aperture I8, provided in the-spherical upper surface of thehousing I4. The end of the pin opposite the threads is secured to thelower end of the gauge the gauge rod with respect to the base I0islimited by movement of the pin I`I in the aperture' I8, the same,preferably, should be of. sufficient size to allo'w the gauge rodconsiderable movement. The large opening is necessary, as will beunderstood, to insure that the device can be adapted for use in theerection of walls having a considerable taper when the rod in thedesired adjusted position would be set at an abnormal angle to theperpendicular.

The housing I4 may be secured to the base IIJ by any suitable means,but, preferably as shown in Fig. 3, is secured thereto by means of athreaded stud I9. The threads-of the stud I9 are adapted to engageinternal threads ofthe housing I4 formed adjacent the end opposite theupper ball-receiving portion thereof. The stud I9 islprovided with ashank 20 which is received Cil in and projects through a suitableaperture provided in the base IIJ. The projecting portion of the shankcan be peened over to form a retaining head 21| and securely holds thehousing to the base.

To prevent mortar and other foreign matter from entering through theaperture- I8 and lodging within the housing I d, a guard is positionedto screen the aperture I 8,under all adjusted positions of the gauge rodII. The guard, as will be understood, in preventing entry of mortar landother matter intothe housing, insures that the operativeness of thepivotal connection I3 will never be impaired.

The guard, as herein disclosed, may comprise an arcuate plate 22 carriedby the pin I'I and so disposed that the underneath concave surfacethereof slidably engages the convex surface of the housing I4. 'I'heplate 22 is of sufficient size to screen the aperture I8 regardless ofthe position of the gauge rod II.

The marginal edges of the plate 22 may be formed as knife edges which,as will be seen, will effectively remove any mortar which may adhere tothe upper surface of the housing It during the course of the work andwhich, if not removed, would prevent` the gauge rod from being movedthroughout it`s entire range of movement.

The gauge rod Il, preferably, comprises an elongate rod of rectangularcross-section, and, as clearly *shown in Fig. 3, is laterally offsetadjacent the lower extremity thereof. This formation places the verticalmedia line of the rod slightly forward of the pivotal connection I3, sothat the connection will not obstruct or interfere with the alignment ofthe gauge rod with the corner when the device has been mounted thereon.

The faces of the rod II are so disposed'with re` spect to the base I0that a sharp and well-defined forward edge is presented adjacent thecorner to form a Working lead therefor as the same is built up.

'I'he gauge l rod II, preferably, is braced by means of the extensiblerods 23. It will be seen,

l n referring now to Fig2, that the base Ill includes of the gauge rodII, as hereinfshown, byA means a pair of normally disposed arms 24provided at the outer ends' thereof with struck up lugs or fingers 25.The lower ends of the brace rods 23 are pivotally secured to the lugs 25by means of pins 26. The opposite end of each brace rod 23 is secured tocontiguous faces of the gauge rod II by means of suitable pivot pins 2I.

Each brace rod 23, as shown referring now to Figs. 3 and 4, comprises anupperand lower rod segment. the adjacent ends of which are provided withoppositely pitched threads 28. The adjacent threaded ends of the rodsegments are coupled together by an adjusting sleeve 29 provided withoppositely pitched internal threads adapted to engage the threads 28 ofthe rod segments. Due to the opposite pitch of the threads 28 ofthe rodsegments as well as the matching threads of the sleeve 29, each bracerod 23 can be easily and quickly extended or retracted by rotation ofits adjusting sleeve 29.

The gauge rod Il, as now will be understood, can be moved to any desiredadjusted position without the necessity of movably adjusting the ba'seI8 by simply rotating the sleeve 29 in either direction according totheadjustment desired. It should be noted that the gauge rod is not onlyadjusted by means of the brace rods 23 and sleeves 29 but is alsoconfined in an adjusted position by the same means. The rod further willnot be easily thrown out of alignment due to objects accidentallystriking the brace rods as the rods are eifective'to move the gauge rodonly when the sleeves 29 are manually rotated.

To facilitate manual adjustment of the rods 23, the sleeves 29 may-beprovided with enlarged central portions, the. outer surface 38 of whichis suitably knurled as shown in Fig. 3.

Any mortar which might, during the course of the work, adhere to thethreads 28 of the rod segments can be easily removed by rotation of thesleeve 29, as the threads thereof will cut and remove the mortar in amanner similar to the cutters of a threading die operating on aworkpiece. 4

To mount the device for use, referring now to Fig. 2 of the drawing, thebase I0 is provided with a projecting tongue 38 which is `adapted to beinserted in the mortar between successive courses of bricks. The tongue38 is joined to the base lil by means of a narrow integral strap 3l. Thetongue preferably is of such size so as to afford a considerablesupporting or bearing area which makes for a stable support for thedevice when mounted for use on the masonry. The tongue, as shown in Fig.3, is wedge-shaped in crosssection so that when the same is insertedinto the mortar between the courses of bricks a Wedging actiontherebetween is provided which action tends to augment the stability ofthe device, as

well as to securely retain the tongue in the mortar joint.

To facilitate the insertion of the 'tongue 3U in the mortar joint, thetongue may be provided with knife edges 32, as best. shown in Fig. 2.

An arm 33 disposed intermediate the arms 25 which comprises a rearwardcontinuation of the strap 3l provides a head which may be struck by asuitable tool such as a hammer to drive the wedge-shaped tongue betweenthe courses of bricks. 'I'he arm 33 may be reinforced by means of aplate 38 secured thereto by any suitable means such as rivets 35. asshown. The plate is so disposed that the forward edge thereofliesdirectly beneath the vertical lead defined on the inner edge of thegauge rod Il when the gauge rod has been plumbed. The forward face 36 ofthe reinforcing plate 3l, therefore, serves as a stop means 4forlimiting movement` and correctly positioning the device onV the cornerwhen the tongue 38 is driven into the mortar yjoint.

In use, after several courses of bricks used in building up the cornerhave been laid and which ment, the device is mounted on the corner byforcing tongue 38 between successive courses of the,previously laidbricks until the face 36 contacts the corner of the wall.

With the device now mounted on the corner, the bricklayer may plumb hisgauge rod by align- 4 ment with the courses completed as well as withany `conventional plumbing tool. As the gauge rod is bent rearwardlyadjacent the connection I3 and the tongue 30 is completely inserted inthe mortar joint, the bricklayer is afforded an unobstructed view of thecorner so that he may, without interference, by the device or supportingmeans, sight the corner and align the gauge `ference by the device. Thedevice is so disposed l when properly positioned, that substantially theentire device lies free of the corner so that the bricklayer may placehis level at any point along the wall, and as clearly shown in Fig. 2,may even, if desired, place the level at the very corner.

'I'he provision of the extensible brace rods 23 permits the workman tomake whatever adjustments are necessary, to align or plumb the gauge rodIl by simply grasping the sleeves 29 and rotating them to set the gaugerod at the desired position without shifting the tongue 30. As the rodIl is positively moved relative to the base I0 by means of the action ofthe oppositely pitched threads 28 during rotation of the sleeves 29,itis possible to obtain very concise and accurate movements of the gaugerod.

The gauge rod Il is substantially rectangular in cross-section and sodisposed with respect to the base l0 that an edge formed by contiguousfaces thereof is presented adjacent the corner of the wall when thedevice has been positioned on the masonry. This edge insures a verysharply defined vertical lead for laying up the remainder of the corner.The edge of the gauge rod is parallel and in contact with the verycorner of th'e wall and the bricklayer may, without the frequent use ofplumbing tools, accurately and quickly complete the corner. The corneris built up until the top of the gauge rod is reached, after which thedevice is removed and the mortar joint in which coniinement of thetongue was had is pointed or lled by the bricklayer. The tongue is theninserted in a mortar joint several courses below the top of the thencompleted wall and the gauge rod again adjusted, as described above.'

Variations and modications may be made within the scope of thisinvention and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

I claim:

1. In a device of the type described, a base including means formounting the device for use; a vertical gauge rod; a socket secured tothe base;

a ball carried by said gauge rod andadapted to be received within saidsocket.; guard means associated with said socket to prevent entry offoreign material therein; brace members having the ends thereofpivotally secured to said base and gauge rod respectively; and meanscarried by said brace members whereby said gauge rod may be adjustedrelative to said base. v

2. In a device of the type described, a base including a tongue forinsertion vat a joint in a masonry structure; a vertical gauge rod;means for pivotally supporting said gauge rod on said base, said meansincluding a ball-and-socket joint; and means including extensible bracerods for adjusting said gauge rod with respect to s'a`id base.

3. In a device of the type described, a base;

l a vertical gauge rod; means pivotally supporting the gauge rod on saidbase; and means for sup= porting said device on a' masonry structure atthe corner thereof, said means comprising a :dat wedge-shaped tongue'formed integral with said base, and adapted to be wedged betweensuccessive courses of bricks, the tongue having edges formed to the trueangle of the corner whereby the device can be mounted in true alignmentwith the corner.

5. In a device of the type described, a base; a vertical gauge rod;means including a ball-andsocket joint for pivotally supporting thegauge rod on said base; guard means carried by the gauge rod andassociated with said socket to prevent entry of foreign matter therein,said guard provided with knife edges: and means for supporting saiddevice for use, said means comprising a fiat wedge-shaped tongue formedintegral with said base, and adapted to be wedged between two successivecourses of bricks.

6. In a device f the typev described, a base; a 'vertical gauge rod;means for pivotally supporting the gauge rod on said base; means forsupporting said device on a masonry' wall at the corner thereof, saidmeans including a flat relatively thin tongue separated from said baseby a narrow strap, said tongue adapted tobe inserted between successivecourses of bricks; and rearwardlyfdisposed means for receiving impactblows to vfacilitate the insertion of said tongue.

'7. In a device of the type described, a thin base including aprojecting tongue for' insertion in a mortar joint; means secured to thebase to extend over a portion thereof to reinforce the same and form astop for limiting` the insertion of the projecting tongue; a verticallydisposed gauge rod having an end thereof laterally offset; means forpivotally mounting said offset end to the base; and means includingextensible brace rods for adjusting said gauge rod relative to saidbase.

8. In a device of the type described, a base including a projectingtongue for insertion in a mortar joint; a vertically disposed gauge rodhaving an end thereof laterally offset; a ball secured to said offsetend; a socket carried by said base and adapted to receive said ball;brace rods having the ends thereof pivotally secured to said 'base andgauge rod respectively; and means carried by said brace rods foradjusting said gauge rod relative to said base.

9. In a device of the type described, a base includinga tongue forinsertion into the green mortar of a partially laid corner in a masonrystructure, the projecting portion of the base being connected to thetongue by a, narrow neck; stop means carried by said base for limitingmovement of the tongue when the same is inserted at said corner toproperly space the projecting portion of the base from the corner; avertical gauge rod; means for pivotally supporting said gauge rod onsaid base and means including extensible brace rods connected to thebase for adjusting said gauge rod with respect to said base to align itwith the previous courses of the partially laid corner.

10. In a device of the type described, a base including a tongue forinsertion at a joint in the corner of a masonry structure; stop meanscarried by said base for limiting movement of the tongue when the saineis inserted at said joint; a vertically disposed gauge rod having aguiding edge thereon to be placed in engagement with the corner of themasonry structure; means for adjustably mounting the gauge rod on thebase; and means including extensible brace rods whereby the verticalposition of said gauge rod can be adjusted, the base having sidesdisposed with an angle of at least with respect to the adjacent wall ofthe masonry structure.

11. In a device of the typ-e described, a base; a vertically disposedgauge rod having an end thereof laterally oifset; a ball secured to saidcifset end; a socket carried by said base, said ball being adapted to bereceived by said socket; guard means carried by the gauge rod to prevententry of foreign matter within said socket; means for mounting saiddevice on a masonry structure, said means including a` flat wedge-shapedtongue secured to said baseby a narrow strap, said tongue adapted to beinserted between successive courses of bricks; and stop means carried bysaid base for limiting movement of the tongue when the same is insertedbetween said courses.

12. In a device of the type described, la base; a vertical gauge rod;means pivotally supporting the gauge rod' on said base; and means forsupporting said device for use, said means comprising a tongue connectedtothe base by a reduced neck portion and adapted to be insertedfin amortar joint of the masonry, the base being spaced from the wall by theneck portion, whereby the wall can be plumbed without interference bythe base of the device.

13. In a device of the typedescribed, a base; means for mounting thedevice on a masonry wall at the corner thereof including a narrow strapprojecting from the corner of the wall and connected to the base; avertical gauge rod pivotally mounted on the base and having a guidingedge adapted to be positioned in engagement with the corner of the wall;and adjustable brace members for positioning the rod having the endsthereof connected to the gauge rod and to thebase at a point away fromthe wall and outwardlyy of the mounting for the gauge rod, the basebeing cut away 'at the sides adjacent the ynarrow strap whereby plumbingof the wall can be eected to 65 `the corner thereof without interferenceby the device. l

WILLIAM S. BYRNES.

